The American

Revolution
Key People & Events

Key People
King George III- British King
Lord Cornwallis- British
general- surrendered at
Yorktown
John Adams- Championed
cause of independence

Key People
George WashingtonCommander of the
Continental Army
Thomas Jefferson- Major
author of the Declaration of
Independence

Key People
Patrick Henry- Outspoken
member of House of
Burgesses; VA politician
Give me liberty, or give me
death
Thomas Paine- journalistwrote Common Sense

Key People
Benjamin Franklin- Member of
the Continental Congress- helped
with the Declaration of
Independence
Phyllis Wheatley- former slavewrote poems and plays about
independence
Paul Revere- Patriot who rode to
warn colonists of British arrival

Key Events
Boston Massacre- colonists in
Boston shot for taunting British
soldiers
Boston Tea Party- led by Samuel
Adams and Paul Revere
protested the Tea Tax- threw tea
into the Boston Harbor

Key Events
First Continental CongressDelegates from all colonies (except
Georgia) met to discuss problems
and promote independence

Battle of Lexington & ConcordSite of first armed conflict

Key Events
POP QUIZ:
When was the Declaration of
Independence Approved:
JULY 4, 1776
Battle of Saratoga- American
victory- turning point of WarFrench decided to help colonists

Key Events
Surrender at Yorktownmarked end of War- surrender
by Lord Cornwallis and British
forces
Treaty of Paris- By signing this
the British recognized
American independence

Reasons for Colonial victory over the

British in the Revolutionary War

Defense of their own land,

principles, and beliefs
Support from France &
Spain
Strong leadership